Storm Data Program Overview

1. Storm Data Program Overview Keith Stellman Meteorologist-in-Charge National Weather Service Atlanta Peachtree City, GA May 8-9, 2013

2. On Tap Today…. • What is storm data? • History of storm data • How storm data is collected • What storm data is used for • Limitations of storm data • Access to storm data • Future of storm data

3. What is storm data? • Storm data is the NWS’s official collection of severe and unusual weather events • The storm events database contains a wide range of weather events from tornadoes and flash floods to droughts and avalanches • Goal is to document the impact that weather events have on the United States for historical records and trend analysis • Both internally required Directives • OFCM - National Plan for Disaster Impact Assessments Water and Weather Data (www.ofcm.gov)

5. History of Storm Data 1850s – Earliest known storm data reports. Data collected by the military and sent to Washington, DC via telegram. 1959 – First NCDC published Storm Data Publication. Data documented using typewriter. 1993 – First electronic version of storm data collection. Data documented using WordPerfect 5.0.

6. History of Storm Data (cont.) 1996 – StormDat program developed. Data documented using Paradox 7 database. 1999– StormDat 2000 developed and data documented using Paradox 9 database. 2006 – Web-based StormDat is developed and data documented using database maintained on a web server. 2007 – Google Maps added to the StormDat

7. Storm Data Collection Process Leading up to hazardous weather events, the NWS issues outlooks, watches and advisories

8. Storm Data Collection Process Warnings are issued via AWIPS system Warnings issued based on spotter reports, radar, or model data

9. Storm Data Collection Process Hazardous weather reports are collected via phone and mobile or web-based spotter reporter applications These reports are transmitted via Local Storm Reports (LSR) by the NWS to the public

10. Storm Data Collection Process The NWS validates hazardous weather reports via post-storm surveys Use help from Emergency Managers and other emergency relief agencies in situations where damage is widespread or in remote area

11. Storm Data Collection Process For non-precipitation events (e.g., excessive heat, extreme cold, drought, etc.) and to supplement post-storm surveys NWS relies on mostly on newspaper, media, emergency management, and coroners office (state and local) reports

12. Storm Data Collection Process Events logged within 60 days of occurrence

13. Storm Data Collection Process

14. Storm Data Information Collected Event type Event source Date/time event began Date/time event ended Location of event County/Zone name Lat/lons defining event (if applicable) Fatalities/injuries associated with event Damage event caused Cause of event (if applicable) Magnitude of event (if applicable) Width of event (if applicable) Length of event (if applicable) When event met criteria (if applicable) Narrative of what happened

15. Astronomical Low Tide Avalanche Blizzard Coastal Flood Cold/Wind Chill Debris Flow Dense Fog Dense Smoke Drought Dust Devil Dust Storm Excessive Heat Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Flash Flood Flood Frost/Freeze Funnel Cloud Freezing Fog Hail Heat Heavy Rain Heavy Snow High Surf High Wind Hurricane (Typhoon) Ice Storm Lake-Effect Snow Lakeshore Flood Lightning Marine Hail Marine High Wind Marine Strong Wind Marine Thunderstorm Wind Rip Current Seiche Sleet Storm Surge/Tide Strong Wind Thunderstorm Wind Tornado Tropical Depression Tropical Storm Tsunami Volcanic Ash Waterspout Wildfire Winter Storm Winter Weather Storm Data Events Collected

16. Storm Data Fatality Information Age Gender Date of Fatality Direct or Indirect Was the weather event the direct cause of the fatality? Location of Fatality Ball Field Boating Business Camping Church Heavy Equipment/Construction Golfing In Water Long Span Roof Mobile/Trailer Home Other Outside/Open Areas Permanent Home Permanent Structure School Telephone Under Tree Vehicle/Towed Trailer Unknown

17. Uses for Storm Data The information entered into storm data has many uses. Here are a few… NWS Verification Statistics Official NCDC Storm Data Publication SPC’s Official Severe Weather Database NWS’s Internal Service Assessments Academic Research Studies Disaster Reports Army Corps of Engineers Congressional and Other Gov Data Requests Public and Private Data Requests

18. Limitations of Storm Data Only events that are reported to the NWS make it into storm data Damage estimates are extremely subjective and level of effort may vary from office to office High turnover in position for those who enter storm data which may lead to inconsistencies from year to year at a single office Data prior to 1999 has little quality control

19. Access to Storm Data https://verification.nws.noaa.gov Access to storm data is done through the Performance Management website • All employees with NOAA e-mail can access website • External partners with .GOV, .MIL, and .EDU email addresses can be granted access to storm events database (not entry interface) • Visitors must be registered to access any content on website

20. Future of Storm Data Development has been taking place on-and-off for several years on the next version of storm data. Features will include: • High resolution storm reports • Multiple vertices storm paths • Elimination of requirement to break events up into county segments • Event damage calculator • Ability to provide lat/lon for fatality and injury location • Easier event entry • Enhanced locations database

21. Thank you for your time!Feel free to contact me at…. Keith Stellman E-mail: keith.stellman@noaa.gov Phone: 770-486-1133 x 222